New military recruits pledge the oath of enlistment during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
Attendees at a rodeo in Oklahoma assembled to see cattle roping, horse riding and the swearing in of more than 60 military recruits.
The Lawton Rangers in Lawton, Okla., held a special military appreciation night Aug. 7, which was attended by recruits and military leadership from Fort Sill.
Kadence Williams, this year’s rodeo queen, carries the American flag while seated on horseback during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
Fort Sill’s Buffalo Soldiers present the colors during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
Brig. Gen. Patrick Costello, the commanding general of Fort Sill, loped into the arena on horseback with rodeo cowboys during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner/U.S. Army)
Longhorn cattle walk into a rodeo arena during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
A drill sergeant directs trainees into the bleachers during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
Military trainees standing in bleachers salute during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
New military recruits pledge the oath of enlistment during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
Brig. Gen. Patrick Costello, the commanding general of Fort Sill, and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Flynn shake hands with new military recruits during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
A woman poses with Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Flynn, who is seated on a horse, during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
Brig. Gen. Patrick Costello, the commanding general of Fort Sill, speaks to Army recruits during military appreciation night at the Lawton Rangers rodeo in Lawton, Okla., on Aug. 7, 2026. (Angela Turner and Danielle Kinney/U.S. Army)
The evening began with a presentation of the colors by Fort Sill’s Buffalo Soldiers and Brig. Gen. Patrick Costello, the commanding general of the installation, loped into the arena on horseback with the rodeo cowboys.
Costello was accompanied in the rodeo’s grand entry by Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Flynn and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, R-Okla.
After remarks by U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., Costello administered the oath of enlistment. The enlistees raised their right hands to pledge their commitment to the U.S. Constitution in front of stands filled with current and former service members.
The rodeo’s enlistment ceremony has grown in recent years. In 2023, there were 26 recruits sworn in, according to an Army press release. Last year, nearly 50 people took the oath, according to KSWO-TV 7News in southwest Oklahoma.
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